Pin setting machine



y 1, 1951 A. M. M FARLAND 2,550,835

PIN SETTING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1945 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 1, 1951 A. M. M CFARLAND PIN SETTING MACHINE NMN Filed March 22, 1945 y 1951 A. M. M FARLAND 2,550,835

PIN SETTING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 [rm/mf Aa s May 1, 1951 A. M. M FARLAND PIN SETTING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 22, 1945 y 1, 1951 A. M. M FARLAND 2,550,835

PIN SETTING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1945 I 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 as 52 3 Y 266 y 1951 A. M. M FARLAND 2,550,835

PIN SEWING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 y 5 A. M. M FARLAND 2,550,835

PIN SETTING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 127 jk H3 126 was I 5% 7iu7 wa mwb J g 4 Wm/ %@W 2% y 1, 5 A. M. M FARLAND 2,550,835

. PINSETTING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 y 1951 A. M. M FARLAND 2,550,835

PIN SETTING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 M y 1, 1951 A. M. M CFARLAND 2,550,835

PIN SETTING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet 1O III/ I II I y 1951 I AM. M FARLAND I 2,550,835

PIN SETTING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet 11 M y 1951 A. M; M QFARLAND PIN SETTING MACHINE 1s Sheffs-Sheet 1s Filed March 22, 1945 Patented May 1, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIN SETTING MACHINE Allison M. MacFai-land, Freeport, Ill., assignor of one-half .to Frank Howard and one-half to William G. Angelos, Freeport, Ill.

Application March 22, 1945, Serial No. 584,175

.26 Claims.

This invention relates to pin setting machines for bowling alleys and has for its general object,

the provision of an improved machine for resetting the pins.

An important purpose of the invention is the provision of a pin setting machine operative under the control of. the player for either resetting all of the pins, or to reset only the pins. re-

ma1n1ng standmg after the ball is rolled;

Afurther object of the invention is the provision of a pin setting machine having a novel pin rack for storing the pins and forrepositioning the-pins on the alley.

I have also aimed to provide a pin setting machine wherein the pins are fed in succession into a circular position'in the pin rack and the pins are shifted to a triangular position as the pinrack is lowered to seat the pins on the alley.

Anotherobject of theinvention is the provision of a 'pin setting machine having novelmeans for feeding the pins into the pin rack and for indexing the pin rack to receive successive pins.

I have further aimed to provide a pin setting machine having improved means for driving the same and improvedmeans-v for controlling the driving means.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a machine of the character described having improved means for retaining the pinsin the pin rack and improved means for controlling theretaining means.

Another important object of the invention is the provisionof a pin setter which can beapplied to conventional alleys with no substantial change in the alley or building, such, for example; aschanges in the floors to provide deeper pits or changes in the alley surface.

Other objects and advantages. will appear from the following description andthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front view of the pin setting machine embodying my invention, showing the parts in the positions occupied thereby just prior to the descent of the pin rack in setting all pins, certain parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof partly in seetion showing the parts in the positions occupied thereby just after deposit of the last pin in the pin rack;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top View of the lever mechanism for operating the pin stop;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view partly in section showing the pin stop and the switch mechanism associatedtherewith;

.Fig. .5 is a side elevation of the conveyer and transporting mechanism in: the rest position thereof taken from the extreme right side of the machine facing Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a top view of the conveyer and transporting mechanism showing the drive therefor; Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the I manual control box for controlling the operation of the pin setting mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a view-of the program switch mech-- anism with the cover in section;v

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 99 of T Fig.8;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary section showing the .drive mechanism for rotating the pin rack;

Fig. 15 is a partial section-showing the upper end of the pin rack cylinder and the switch operating mechanism associated therewith;

Fig. 16 is a view on the line Iii-l6, of Figure 2 ;showing the top side of the pin rack in the positionoccupied thereby just after the last pin is deposited, the-moved positions of thepin tubes being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 17 is a section substantially onthe line Q ll-ll of Fig. 16 showing the structure of the stationary pin tubes;

Fig. 1a is a section on the line |a- |a of Fig- 16 Y showing the structure of the movable pin tube Fig. 19 is a view on the line I9l9 of Figure 2. with the parts occupying the sameposition as in Fig. 16 and with the shroud removed showing the.

individual pin grip valves and the lever mechanism for swinging themovablepin tubes;

Fig. 20 is a view taken on the line 2o 2o of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a view'on the line 21-41 of Fig..19;

Fig. 22- is a section substantially on the line 22-42 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 23 is a section on the-line23-23of Figure- 2 showing: the upper ends of the pin tubes, the parts occupying the same positionsas in-Figs. '16-- and 19;

-.Fig. 2i is aview on the line 24-44 of Fig. 23;-

Fig. 25 is a section on the line 25-25 of Fig. 24;

Fig. 26 is a horizontal section through one of the pin tubes and the pin grips associated therewith;

Fig. 27 is a section on the line 21-21 of Fig. 26;

Figs. 28 and 29 are sections through the pin rack plates and through the valve 35I controlling the movement of the movable pin tubes showing the two operative positions thereof;

Figs. 30 and 31 are longitudinal sections through one of the valves 224 for controlling the pin grips, the figures showing the two positions of the valve;'

Figs. 32 and 33 are sectional views partly in elevation showing the structure of the solenoid operated Valves 255, 295, 335 and 36!; i

Fig. 34 is a section substantially on the line 3434 of Fig. 14, and

Fig. 35 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuits with the parts in the rest position between pin setting cycles.

The pin setting machine is suitable for use in conventional bowling alleys and includes a gathering and conveying mechanism located in and above the pit 6 (Fig. 2) at the end of the alley floor 1 and which serves to gather the pins and the ball out-of the pit, elevate the ball and deliver it to the ball return track and carry the pins to an elevated position in which the pins are oriented and delivered to a pin rack mechanism.

The machine also includes a device for receiving the pins from the conveyer mechanism and resetting them in proper relationship on the alley together with a sweeper mechanism which functions to sweep the pins and ball from the end of the alley and into the pit at appropriate times. Control mechanism is provided for controll n the operation of the various devices in timed and proper sequence, the operation of the control mechanism being initiated. by the bowler.

Gathering and conveying mechanism The gathering and conveying mechanism comprises a frame structure, in this instance including front columnsfil and rear columns 32, the columns being positioned at or near the four corners of the pit 6 and acting to su port an elevated rectan ular frame structure (Fig. 6) compris n a plate 33. an end member 34. a rear member 35 and a front member 36, the entire frame structure being bolted. riveted or welded together into a rigid unit. The lower ends of the legs 32 are interconnected by a plate 30 (Fig. and the lower ends of legs 3| are interconnected by a plate 31. Carried on the plate 3!] ad acent the rear corners of the pit are sprocket 38 and carried on the plate 31 ad acent the other two corners of the pit are sprockets 39. The pit will, of course. be provided with the conventional bumper located against the back wall of the pit, but this has been omitted from the drawings for clarity. Sprockets 4| .and 42 (Figs. 5 and 6). are rotatably carried on the frame member 35 directly above the sprockets 38, and sprockets 43 and 44 are carried on the frame member 36 directly above the sprockets 39. An endless chain 45 is trained over the sprockets 38, 4| and 42, and an endless chain 46 is trained over the sprockets 39, 43 and 44. Interconnecting the endless side chains 45 and 46 are a plurality of conveyer elements. These elements include at least one ball shelf in the leading position on the chains as indicated at 41, and a plurality (at least ten and preferably more) of pin shelves as indicated by the numeral 50 arranged in spaced relation on the chains. Ad-

ditional ball shelves may, if desired, be provided, interspersed between the pin shelves. The pin shelves each comprise a crossbar 48 having plates 48a affixed to its ends, the plates having openings 49 for the reception of pins 49a fixed to and projecting from the chains. Shelf-like flanges 5! are affixed to each of the pin shelves, the flanges being of about one-half the length of the crossbars 48, and the flanges on successive crossbars being disposed alternately adjacent opposite ends of the bars as shown in Fig. 11. These flanges are about the same length as a bowling pin and are adapted to gather up the pins from the pit in the manner shown in dotted lines in Figs. 10 and 11 to elevate the pins singly for delivery in the manner later described. The ball shelf 6? likewise has a crossbar 41a provided with plates llb at its ends provided with openings for pins 49a on the chains, the plates in this instance being mounted to incline the crossbar downward slightly toward the chain 46 when the parts occupy the position of Fig. 11. The plates 411) have outwardly projecting arms 52, the extremities of which are connected by an angle iron 53 to provide a sloping shelf or way of sufiicient width to support a bowl ing ball between the angle iron and the face of the crossbar 41a but the distance therebetween should be suificient to allow the pins to pass therebetween so that as the shelf turns the corner between the lower and the vertical reaches of the chains the ball will be retained on the shelf and the pins will pass therethrough. The shelf slopes so that the ball rolls to the front of the shelf to pass therefrom onto the conventional ball return groove 83, as will be apparent from Fig. 11. Thus the chains 45 and 46 and the cross bars provide a conveyer for gathering the ball and pins from the bottom of the pit by movement of the cross bars along the bottom of the" pit and for elevating the ball and pins upwardly. The sprocket 44 is carried on a stub shaft 54 (Fig. 5) rotatably supported in a pillow block attached to the lower side of frame member 36, and like-' wise the sprocket 42 is carried on a similar stub shaft 54a rotatably supported on the lower side of frame member 35. On the outer end of the stub shaft 54 a gear 55 is carried which meshes with a gear 56 fixed to a shaft 51 mounted for rotation on the plate 33. The shaft 51 al o carries a gear 58 which meshes with a gear 55a carried on the stub shaft 54a, whereby rotation of the shaft 51 causes simultaneous and equal rotation of the sprockets 42 and 44 to drive the conveyer chains.

Attached to the rear end of the shaft 57 is a bevel gear 55 which meshes with a bevel gear M on a shaft 62 (Fig. 6) extending crosswise of the alley and mounted in bearings 63 attached to the plate 33. The shaft 62 carries a sprocket 6G driving a chain 65 which serves to drive a pin orienting and feeding mechanism. This mechanism includes stringers 66 and 6'! (Fig. 12), in

this instance formed of U-shaped channel ironmembers, the opposite ends of the stringers being attached to the frame members 35 and 36 by depending brackets 68. Cross shafts 69 and H (Figs. 5 and 12) are supported for rotation on the stringers as by bearings 1.2 (Fig. 12), the shaft 69 carrying spaced pulleys 13 and I4 and the shaft H carrying similar spaced pulleys l5. Carried on the stringers and extending between the chains of the conveyer is a hopper ii, the

hopper having a bottom opening disposed above the space between the pulleys and a bottom 16 '1 extending upwardly and outwardly to a point in 5.? close relationto the plane of travelof. the outer edge: of the'ball shelf as bestv shown in. Figs. 6 and. 12 and in. suchv relation. thatthe pi'ns carried upwardly on the pin shelves 'I- willbe deposited on the bottom as the; cross bars turn the corner about" the sprockets. 4| and 43",.the pins rolling down the bottom I5 as shown at 86 in Fig. 12 and. being received: on spaced. belts 18' and T9 trained on the pulleys. and-inclinedbottom portion SI which serve to.

deflect the pins onto the belts and prevent them.

from rolling completely across the belts under themomentum acquired by rolling down the bottom IS. The belts. T8 and!!! are in parallelism, with their edges inspaced relation, the space being sufficient for the passage ofv the head of a pin therethrough, but.v less than the largest diameterof the pin. By properly spacingthe belts itwill be seen that the pin may be caused to pivot about a transverse axis so located that the head portion of the pin is heavier than the butt'portion. This causes orientation of the pins with the-buttends projecting upwardly as shown in. dotted lines in Fig. .12. The diameter of the pulleys 13 to i5 is in this instance made such that as the belts convey the pins in the direction indicated by the arrowin Fig.2, thehead ends of the. inswill engage the shaft 59 as the pins are carried off the belts causing the pins. to be deposited buttenddownward into the pin chute presently to be described as shown in full lines,

in Fig.12. The pulleys T3 to I5 and the belts it and 19 are driven by. a sprocket 82 on the cross shaft. II over whiehthe chain 65 is trained.

Thesprockets 38 and 39 and the sprockets AI and 43. are so positioned that the ball shelf ll moves upwardly directly in the plane of a ball return track of conventional design designated generally by the numeral 83 (Figs. 1 and 11), having a groove into which the ball carried onthe shelf 41 rolls as soon as the bottom of the shelf comes into alignment with the groove, the ball rolling down the groove in the usual fashion to return to the playing station.

The conveyer is driven by a continuously run-' ning motor and gear mechanism mounted on the plate 33, the drive conventionally including an electric motor 86. which acts to drive a gear reduction 8'l. A gear 88 is attached to the shaft 51' the reduction gearing 81. The clutch is in this instance actuated by a solenoid indicated diagrammatically at 92 .(Fig. 5) The solenoid functions. when energized. to hold the clutch'in engagement while the conveyer chains -l5 and 45' move through one complete revolution and come.

back to their startingpoint. Likewise the belts I8 and I9 will be. driven during the entire period in which the conveyer chains are in motion and because of the difierence between the gear ratios in the belt drive and in the conveyer chain drive ata substantially greater linear speed than the conveyer. Thus this gathering and conveying mechanism operates intermittently and when energized serves to gather-the ball and the pins from thepit, deposit the ball in the ball return track, and deposit the-pins one at a time into the pin guide for passage to the setting mechanism, whereupon the conveyer stops. The conveyer and orienting means are driven at a preselected rate-'ofspeed as compared with the pinrack presently tobe described and atleast atsuch arate as to take the pins out from under the pin guide The hopper has a side portion as fast as they can bedelivered normally. In 1 order". that there shall be no obstruction in the bottom of the pit at the-time at which-the bowler casts the, ball along the alley, that portion of" the.

6 conveyer which lies in the bottom of the pit and adjacent the bottom of the pitwhen the conveyer is stopped is free of cross bars.

Pin setting mechanism including uprights 94 and 95' (Fig. 1) arranged on opposite sidesof the alley and interconnecting top frame members 95 and 91 (Fig. 2), in this instance comprising structural steel of U-shaped l5'*cross-seotion. This frame structure spans the alley above the area in which the pins are to be set and adjacent the alley pit. Positioned on the frame substantially over the center of the alley is a body designated generally by the numeral 9.8 20which is fixedly attached to the frame members $18 and 9? by any convenient means as by bolting or welding. Housed in the body below-the plane. of the frame members is a worm gear 99 and worm MI (Fig. 14) meshing therewith, the. worm gear 99 having a hub I02 (Fig. 14) bearing against.

the inner surface of a chamber I63, and a retainer plate le through which the lower end of the hub passes. Upwardly disposed from the body 98. is a cylinder H35 (Figs. 2 and 15)", the cylinder ter' 'minating at a closure and switch block I03. Ex-

tending upwardly from the closure block are rods I ii! supporting a switch block! 09 in spaced relation to-the block H28. Each of the blocks carry a plurality of self-contained precision snap acting switches the purpose of which will presently be described. Extending vertically through the center of the cylinder I05 and through the worm gear 99 is a shaft I I I in the form of a tube and a piston H2 in the cylinder Ill'5 is fixed to this shaft to move the shaft and associated parts up and down upon the admission or release of fluid from the cylinder. The lower end of the shaft is provided with a keyway I I3 (Figs. 13 and 14) and the worm gear 99 is provided with a key IM so that the shaft may be driven in rotary motion by rotation of the worm gear, and the shaft may be moved longitudinally with respect to the worm gear as will presently be described. A stuffing box H5 acts to seal the junction between the tube and the hore through which the tube passes out of the body 98, and within the body is disposed a metal.

plate I I6 having a depending tab I I? adapted to fill the'keyway, the plate I56 being heldin position by a plate I I8 superimposed thereon.

Positioned on the shaft II I for vertical. movement therewith is a switch operating block I2I (Figs. 1, 2 and 15) which serves to operate switches in response to predetermined vertical movement of the shaft. Carried on the switch 6() block IE9 and projecting downward into the bore of the shaft I I I is an air supply tube I22 having substantially the same outer diameter as the diameter of the bore in the shaft HI for snug reception therein, 'yet permitting longitudinal movement of the shaft with respect thereto.

Sweeper Attached to one side'ofthe block I63 on a pivot" I26 is a sweeper armI2'T. The sweeper arm I21 The pin setting mechanism comprises a frame The. block I2I carries a stuffing box I23 which preais formed in two parts (Fig. 2) connected .by a pivot I28 and one part of the arm is a relatively straight arm portion I29 having a stop I3I to limit its rotation in a clockwise direction facing Fig. 2. The portion I29 also has an ear I32 carrying a counterbalancing spring I33 connected to an ear I34 on the main portion of the arm for the purpose of substantially counterbalancing the weight of the portion I29. The portion I29 carries a rubber covered sweeper I35 of a length substantially equal to the width of the alley and shaped so as to be capable of engaging the pins and ball lying on the alley to sweep them into the pin as the arm moves from the full line position of Fig. 2 to the dotted line position thereof. Rubber covered rollers I36 are positioned to engage and roll along the gutters to prevent contact of the sweeper with the surface of the alley.

The arm is moved between said positions by means of an air cylinder I36 pivoted on the body 98 as shown at I31 and having a piston and piston rod I38 pivoted to the arm as shown at I39 so that when air or other fluid is admitted to the cylinder the piston is forced outward and the sweeper arm is elevated to the full line position, whereas when the fluid is exhausted from the cylinder the sweeper arm moves downwardly to the dotted line position under its own weight. The movement of the piston is controlled by valve means presently to be described which is provided with means to control the rate at which the fluid is permitted to pass out of the cylinder I36 to control the rate of descent. Attached to the arm adjacent the trunnion I26 is a switch operating finger I42 positioned and shaped to engage a switch 392 mounted on the lower side of the block H18 in the lower position of the arm, and a bracket I43 serves to support additional switches in a position to be engaged by the arm in the elevated position thereof. These switches function in the control of the mechanism as will presently appear.

Pin Rack A pin rack shown in elevation in Figs. 1 and 2 but shown more in detail in Figs. 16 through 27 is attached to the lower end of the shaft I I I for rotation therewith and for vertical movement between an elevated position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and a lower position in which the lower ends of the pins rest on the top of the alley. This pin rack includes two spaced plates I 41 and I48 (Figs.- 20-22) fixedly interconnected by spacer rods I49. These plates carry a hub II fixedly attached to the shaft III as by a screw I44 and key M411 (Fig. 22), the hub having a channel I52 communicating with the bore of the shaft III for the passage of fluid therethrough to certain of the valves, as will presently appear. A shroud I46 may interconnect the plates at their periphery to enclose the space therebetween. Th circular pin frame thus provided is divided into twelve equal segments of 30 each and on each of ten of the radii between these segments there is disposed a pin sleeve passing through the two plates as best shown in Figs. 16, 1'7 and 18, the sleeves being arranged with their centers approximately on a circle about the shaft III. These sleeves are numbered I6I through I16 (Fig. 16), the numbers corresponding to pins numbered 1 through as conventionally designated in the usual triangular ten pin pattern. Thus, sleeve numbered IBI functions to guide bowling pin No. 1 into its proper seated positionin the pin rack, sleeve I62 functions to guide pin No. 2

into its position, etc. Eachof these sleeves conplate I41, the walls sloping inwardly toward the bottom and being attached by welding or otherwise to the plate I48.

' Integral with the sleeves I62, I63, I64, I66, I68 and I69 and depending from the plane of the plate I43 in the manner shown in Fig. 17 ar pin holders in the form of tubes indicated generally by the numerals I14 through I19, respectively (Fig. 23), these tubes being substantially identical in form and of such diameter as to receive a bowling pin as it passes through the pin guide presently to be described and to retain th pin {therein until the pins are set on the alley, each of thepin tubes havinga pin gripping mechanism functioning for this purpose. Below the pin sleeves I6I, I61, I65 and I19 are movable pin tubes I8I, I82, I83 and I84, each arranged in the manner shown in Fig. 18 so as to be capable of movement with respect to its sleeve. The pin tube IBI is carried on an arm I66 fixed to a bearing pin I81 passing through the plates and having a lever I88 (Fig. 19) between the plates pivotally connected to a rod I89 pivoted on a bell crank I96 which is fixed on a rotatable pin I9I having bearing support in the plates. The bell crank and pin are rotated by a pivotally mounted fluid cylinder and piston I92, whereby when the piston is forced outward in response to th admission of fluid into thecylinder the tube IBI is A swung into position under the pin sleeve I6I. sprin I93 swings the tube from its position in the circle to a point best shown in dotted lines in Figs. 16 and 23 upon the release of pressure from the cylinder, thus moving the pin carried by this tube into its proper position in the conventional triangular pattern.v

Attached to the lower end of bearing pin I9I below plate I48 is an arm I which serves to support pin tube I84 for movement between the full line position of Fig. 23 on the loading circle and the dotted line position in the triangular pattern in response to the above mentioned op-,

eration of the piston and cylinder I92.

Secured to the bottom of plat I48 are a pair of spaced slideways I94 adapted for reception therebetween of the pin tube I83, the tube having a slidable guide plate I65 for reception in the ways. The ways extend between the loadin circle and the center of the circle as will be seen from Fig. 23 and act to carry the tube between the full and dotted line positions representing the circular and triangular positions thereof. A link I96 is pivoted on the plate I95 and on the tube IBI so that as the tube I6I is swung between its full and its dotted line positions by operation of the cylinder and piston I92 and of the spring I93,"-

into its proper position in the triangular pattern.

Pin grips Mounted on each of the pin tubes is a fluidoperated pin gripping device. The pin grippers When ur-Md 01. v th stat n r tubes m be .co jnected 'to'the bore of the shaft III for the reception of pre'ssure fluid therefrom by rigid tubing, whereas flexible tubing is employed for connection to the pin grippers on the movable tubes $1,132, I83 and I84. These pin grippers may, each conveniently talge the form Shown in Figs. 26 and 2'7 in which the numerals 12' and 2I2 designate fluid cylinders attached to'the pin tube on diametrically opposite sides "thereof the cylinders carrying pistons 213 and 214 having their outer ends as shown at 2H5 complemental to andshaped to grip against the .opposite'sides of bowling p-in 200 in the areaof smallest diameter so as to center the pin in the tube and retain the pin therein in centered re 'lationshipwith the lower end of the pin projecting, out of the bottom end of the tube as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The pistons of each grip are moved to 'the'closed or pin gripping position I ,from the cylinders, springs 2i}! and 22! having one end attached to the pistons and the other end thereof attached to cylinder heads 22-2 and 1.223, act to pull the pistons into the cylinders and release the pins from the grippers. The

fluid pressure supply tubes 2l6 leading to each of the pin grips pass upwardly as shown in Figs.

"17 19 and 21' through the plate M8 to individual control valves 22 3 located between the plates radially opposite each pin tube. Air is supplied to the individual valves through a manifold 226 connected to the fluid channel 152 atthe hub of the rack (Fig. 22') by a pipe 225. v "The individual valves 224 shown in detail in Figs;l'30 and 31 are spring pressed to openposit ion and each has anoperating stem 22'l projecting outwardly from the rack and adapted "for cam-operation as will presently be described toterminate the supply'of'fluid-to the cylinders and open the same to atmosphere'for separate "opening of the individual grippers. 1224 'may'be of conventional form, one suitable structure being shown in Figs. 30 and 31 and comprising a-bo'dy Mil having a central bore 402- withinwhich is disposed a slidable valve member 4 9 3 spring pressed'tothe position shown in ;Fig.* 30 and having ports establishing communication between the tubes-226 and- 2H5. The valvememberhas an annular-collar 404 which when the stem is moved'inward closes comn-unication between tubes- 2'26- and- 2 l6 and opens The valves communication between the tube-2 lfi and a vent 'cpeni-ng 405 in the valve'body.

Pin guide Mounted on the body 98 (Figs. 2 and 12) is a pin guiding means, in this instance a. pin chute 228 extending from a point adjacent the pulleys ,l3- and M, in a position toreceive the pins discharged from the belts, to a point directly above being in alignment with one of the pin tubes in'each position of rest of the pin rack. W In g der that the'pin grip shall be in open DOS ilQiOII WhGIP' ever a pin tube rests beneath the chute, a eam 229,.is provided positioned on a swinging arm :23? attache to sp 23l ;pivoted ,qn a laterally ;disposed U bracket portion j 230 it of the an; s

time wi the e 1 body 98 this cam being disposed in the path or the'operating stems 22-1 of'the pin grip? valves 224,- the cam acting tomove the valve staminward toa position-to cutoif the supply ofjpressure fiuidto the pin grips and open the .pin grip cylinders to the atmosphere.

Pi blo k The rate iof rotation ofthe pin rack is so i of the eonv'eyer that the race will normally index between its successive positions at aifaster rate than the "pins are delivered by the .conveyer. owe r, as asafety measure there is carried on the pin 'chute- -228 a pin block comprising a, 1ever'z4z which pro- .i lt in qthe. i hu the a t pin the lever being 'pivoted asshow'n at Z43 a'nd attached to the 'rod of a fluid cylinder and piston 25,6. A valve eperate's to control' the'flow of pressure fluid to thebylinder :Z lG'an'd when "the valve is eperated to apply pres'sure' therein, the lever 2 42 is rotated to bring the end thereof into the chute and block the passage ofpins therethrough until the rackfhas completed its indexing movement. The valve -24T is" a conventional fluid control valve similar to that shown in Figs. f52 and-33 having a solenoid 248 forope fdfii i the ,valve to admit pressure to the cylinder and a spring 249 for moving the'valve tea position to connect the cylinde'r to atmosphere upon deenergization of the solenoid. A spring 3&4 acts on the lever 242 to withdraw the end from the, hute and permit the passage q :p th i eth or h- Rinstop .li.. c.

of the .plll functions ,to operate an initiation m ans. b y dep'ressirig button 202 (Fig. i 4.) against {the action o f return.spring .20 3, closing a [elecai i a icetiz 'sid se hee w m tions -throug h th' 'circuit ,"s'howii" in 'Fig. 35' to ergize a conventional -onet'urn ,.clutch',234

' fdfig; pi qmeuien the. frame. memte'rsjc's [and :9? thereby engaging the clutch aridconnecting gear train" ,235 "dr ven by. a continuously trunng motor 26. to Qthe shaft .of .a "sprocket 123'! jwhtichj drives a chain .Z 38trained over a sprocket @39 "carried oni the shaftiof" theflworni {III I (Fig. -2). The .speed relation gbetween th'e one-turn i u g j 234 ridjt'ng m wheel is such that upon cs each energiaation oi the'clutch' jthe pm wheel is ed through .3 to 'bring'ltheir'iext succeeding pifi "'mt' into position: beneath the chute 6221:.

As the pin rack starts it'smovement the stem 22! of the valve 22' l'imoves away from cam 229 eylinders; to, grip the -.pin and hold; it; in, position as the. pin; rack eontinues rotation lbrin gi ng the I iih i' l si i re u cs e y fi b xr em between the sleeves ifil and .154 and between the sleeves ibiandl l In order to"cause these blank stations'to pass the loading stationfc'ams 24! (Fig. 2) arelprovided attached to the ad- 23 as these spaces pass the 'loadin v 'tation,

causing the clutch 234 to be immediately reengaged to move the pin rack to the next position.

In order to move the arm 232 out of the path of the pins and pin rack when the pin rack;-

moves to its lower position, the spindle 23! has an arm 252 (Fig. 3) connected by a link 253 to a piston and cylinder 254. The supply of pressurefluid to the cylinder is controlled from a valve 255 of the form shown in Fig. 30, having solenoids 256 and 251 for moving the valve between a position admitting pressure fluid to the cylinder to hold the arm under the pin rack and a position connecting the cylinder to atmosphere to permit a spring 250 to swing the arm out of the path of the pin rack. Spindle 23l also carries a finger 240 rotatable therewith and arranged to actuate a switch 332 on the bracket 230 as hereinafter described.

The control mechanism which will be described more in detail in connection with the operation of the device in this instance includes a manual control box shown in Fig. '7 located at a convenient spot near the bOWllllg station where it is accessible to the bowler for the purpose of shaft 266 carrying a plurality of cams as will later be described through a gear box 261 and single turn clutch 268 of conventional design, the clutch being actuated through a solenoid operator 269 so that when the clutch is actuated the shaft 266 will turn through one complete revolution and then stop. The shaft 266 is mounted for rotation in brackets 284 on the base 260, which also serve to support a plurality of electric switches in operative relationship with the cams, These switches are precision, pin plunger type switches such as are well known in the art and are provided with holes passing through the body of the switch for mounting purposes. Rods 286 are mounted in the brackets 284 and pass through the mounting holes of the switches as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the switches being spaced by spacing tubes 286a disposed on the rods. The control is such that the complete pin gathering and resetting operation occurs during the single rotation of the shaft 266 as hereinafter described.

Operation In the use of the pin setting machine two modes of operation must be provided, one succession of operations being that necessary when all of the ten pins are to be set at a single time such as occurs after the bowler has scored a strike. The second condition is that when a ball has been rolled, knocking down some of the pins and leaving others standing and it becomes necessary to clear the alley of so-called dead wood, and to remove the pins and the ball from the pit before rolling a second ball.

Set all pins When all of the pins are to be set the bowler presses button 262 of the control box inward, swinging toggle lever 21! about its pivot point 261 until contactor.

213- engages contact 214. spring 212 (Fig. 7) acts with the lever 211 to pro-' vide an overcenter toggle. During this movement contactor 215 engages and flexes contact spring member 216 and upon release of the but-' ton 262 by the operator the spring 216 moves lever 21! back to the position shown in Figs. 7 and 35 moving contactor 213 back out of en-- gagement with contact 214 but retaining elec-' trical contact between contactor 215 and spring- 216. Upon the closing of contactor 213 and contact 214 the clutch magnet 269 is momentarily energized to engage the clutch 268 by way of a circuit (Fig. 35) from power line L-l comprising feed line 216, lever 21!, contactor 213 and contact 214, a conductor 211 and coil 269 connectedto feed line 219 energized from the other side L2 of the power line thereby starting rotation of the shaft 266 of the program motor. The motor 265 runs continuously and receives its power through the feed line 219 and a feed line 216 connected to power line Li. This movement of lever 215 also acts to complete the circuit between contactor 215 and spring 216 to supply power to a plurality of switches 363, 333, 306 and 393, controlled by cam disks 289 through 283 by way of a conductor 285 and to break the circuit between contactor 215 and a contact 216a connected to the switches operated by cams 281 to 262 with the exception of a switch 381. All of the switches operated by the cams of the program motor are of the precision snap acting type, such for example as that shown in U. S. Letters Patent 1,960,020 to McGall, and operable with a very small movement so that cams with a rapid rise may be employed and accurately set.

Shortly after the clutch engages and shaft 266 starts rotation, the lobe on cam 260 momentarily closes a switch 293 energizing solenoid 294 of a sweeper arm control valve 295 of the type shown in Figs. 32 and 33, moving this valve to a position to open the interior of cylinder I36 to the atmosphere and release the pressure fluid therefrom. This allows the sweeper arm to fall under its own weight moving any pins or ball which may rest on the alley, into the pit, an adjustable needle valve 349 (Figs. 32 and 33) acting to control the speed of this descent. Energization of the solenoid 294 is by way of a circuit including the conductor 285, switch 293, a conductor 291, a switch 298 located on the switch block H19, a conductor 299, the solenoid 294 and a conductor 36E connected to a feed line 26! to power line L2. The switch 298 is held closed when the pin rack occupies its elevated position, its presence in the circuit preventing the sweeper arm from descending except when the pin wheel is elevated to maintain the switch 298 closed. ,The cam 280 closes the switch 293 only momentarily and the switch reopens before the sweeper arm reaches its lower position.

When the sweeper arm i21 reaches its lowermost position such as that indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 the finger I42 operated by the sweeper arm acts to close a switch 332 of the normally open type which completes a circuit to a solenoid 303 of the sweeper arm valve 295 which shifts the valve back to its normal position, the coil 294 having been deenergized by opening of switch 293. This circuit includes a feed line 251 from line L-l, a conductor 304, switch 362, coil 363 and conductor 30! to line 26L The valve admits pressure fluid to the cylinder I36, thereby raising the sweeper arm and returning it to the full line position of Fig. 2.

13 When the sweeper ar starts upwardly the finerr 42. m es a y fr m h switch 3 en the; circuit to coil 333 but the valve 235 remains in its new position holding the sweeper arm up for thereason that the coils 294 and 393 are both deenergized.

About the time that the sweeper arm has reached its upper position the lobe on cam 28I closes a switch 335 which functions to energize the solenoid 82 of the conveyor mechanism to start the conveyer byway of conductor 28.5, switch 303, conductor 3fl'l,.switch 338, a conductor 339, a switch 3| 9, a conductor 3I2, the coil of solenoid 92 and feed lines 3H1 and 35.3.. The

switch 308 is a safety interlock which is open except when the sweeper arm occupies its elevated position to thereby prevent energizati'on of the. conveyer except when the sweeper arm is out of the way and the switch 3!! is a switch of the normally open type and serves as an interlock to prevent operation of the conveyer except when the pin rack occupies its elevated position. When the conveyer has moved a short distance a cam 3.46 carried thereon moves away from a switch operator 343 suspended in its path from the frame allowing a switch 329 of the normally closed type to close, thereby energizing solenoid 92; directly from line L-.-! through a conductor 335. v This initial movement of the conveyer also brings the cam 346 into engagement with a switch 328 of the normally open type which serves to energize a solenoid 25.1 of the valve 255 to admit pressure fluid to the cylinder 254 and move the arm'232 into operative position under the pin rack. This circuit includes switch 328 connected toll-=4, conductor 323, conductor 335, coil 251 and conductor 329.

During the operation of the conveyer the pins are delivered to the orienting device from which they are deposited into the pin chute 223. Carr-ied on the shaft of the worm IIH is a cam 3M adapted to open a switch 3I5 of the normally closed type when the clutch 234 and the worm are in their stopped position and a pin tube is disposed beneath the pin chute 228. The switch 3.15. is, connected to energize the solenoid 2 48 of the: pin block mechanism by way of a conductor 319. connected to feed line 25!, switch 3I5, a conductor 3E6 and solenoid 243 connectedto feed line 2!. to. receive a pin the switch 3I5 is open and the solenoid 248 deenergized allowing spring 249 to move the valve 341 to a position to connect the cylinder 243 to atmosphere and spring 244 acts to hold the pin block in a retracted position permitting the pins to pass directly through the chute. and. into the pin tubes.

As each pin strikes and closes the normally open switch 233 of the pin stop this switch functions to energize the solenoid 3I'I of the once around clutch 234, through a circuit from feed line 25L switch 233, a conductor 3I9, the coil 3H and a conductor 32I to feed line 23I, thereby engaging the clutch for one revolution and indexing the pin rack to the next pin receiving station. As soon as the pin wheel starts to move the pin comes out of engagement with switch Whenever the pin rack is in position I 4 sit oned nder he l -er' and .0 5 the chute. When h pos t on is, reached the cam 3M again op n switch 3 anclth in stop s wit dr This operation is continued as long as pins are delivered into the pin rack, the cams 24I acting to operate the switch 233 to cause the pin rack to pass through the stations at which no pin 322 attached to the hub I32 of worm gear 99 acts to close a switch 324 of the normally open type which closes a circuit to the solenoid 256 of air valve 255 by way of a circuit comprising a conductor 325 attached to feeder line 25I, switch 324, a conductor 326, solenoid 253, and conductor 3-29 to feed line 216! to connect the cylinder 254 to atmosphere and permit spring 253 to sw ng the arm 232 out from under the pin rack. Thus the switch 233 is moved out of the path of the pins while the rack is completing its last indexing step and before it reaches its final angular position in which the pins are set on the alley. This serves to prevent further rotation of the pin rack and also prepares the mechanism for unloading of the rack. As the arm moves out the cam 229 moves out of the path of the stems of the pin grip air valves so that all of these valves are closed. coincidental with this movement of the arm 232 the: finger 230 rotates to .close switch 332 of the normally open type. and this instance of the precision pin plunger type which is a safety interlock switch connected into the circuit of the pin rack controls and which acts to prevent the pin rack from being lowered until the arm 232 is out of the Way. When the pin rack completes its final rotary movement the lobe on cam 322 comes into engagement with and closes a switch 339. of the normally open type and stops in position, to hold this switch closed.

Rotation of cam shaft 266 now brings the lobe oi cam 282 into contact with a switch 333 closing the same to energize the solenoid 334 of the pin rack control valve 335 (see Fig. 1) which acts to connect the interior of the pin rack cylinder I05 with the atmosphere, the valve 335 being conheated with the bottom of the cylinder through a. tube 33.! (Fig. 1),, the circuit comprising conductor 2855, switch 333, conductor 33?, switch 339,

a conductor 34I, switch 332, a conductor 342, switch 343 carried on bracket I 43 (Fig. 2) and operated by the sweeper arm I21, a switch 345 operated by lug 345 on the conveyer chain, a conductor 341, coil 334 and conductor 348 connected to feeder line 25!. The switches 339, 355, 332 and 343 are safety interlock switches, the switch 339 being to prevent the pin rack from being lowered except when the wheel has rotated to its proper position, the switch 345 preventing the operation of valve 335 except when the conveyer is in its rest position, the switch 332 preventing operation of the Valve except when the arm 232 is out from under the pin rack and the switch 343 preventing operation of the valve except when the sweeper arm is in its elevated position.

When the pressure fluid is released from the interior of cylinder I35 the pin rack descends under its, own weight, the rate of descent being controlled by the adjustment of a needle valve 349 (Figs.- 32 and 33-). As the pin r-ack' starts 

